Sport Psychology

Sport Psychology: The Basics provides an accessible introduction to the fundamental ideas at the heart of Sport Psychology today. This new revised and updated second edition examines the links between sport participants’ behaviours, their personality, and their environment to identify the factors which affect performance. Exploring theory and practice, it uses case studies to illustrate how key areas of theory are applied within a sport psychologist’s practice, answering such questions as:

What is sport psychology and what do sport psychologists do?

What factors affect sporting performance?

How can sport psychologists help parents and sport organizations?

Which psychological characteristics are associated with achievement in sport?

How can sport psychologists help with athlete’s mental health?

With a glossary of key terms, suggestions for further study, and ideas for improving performance, Sport Psychology: The Basics is an ideal introduction for students of sport and coaches who would like to know more about how sport psychologists address questions about human behaviour in sport.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Personality

3. Motivation

4. Self-confidence

5. Arousal, Stress, Anxiety, and Performance

6. Competition and Audience Effects

7. Group Processes

8. Psychological Skills Training

9. Physical Skill Acquisition and Behaviour Modification